[Machiavelli]

“I think Burkie was probably just trying to get him going,” Flames defenceman Shane O’Brien said. “I don’t think he was trying to ruin the kid’s confidence. I think he was trying to tell him he needs to be better. That’s how Burkie is, he’ll speak is mind and know where you stand with him.

“I think Baertschi is a strong kid. I haven’t talked to him about it, but I’m sure he’s heard about it — it’s Calgary and a big deal.

“But one thing I’ll say about Burkie, he may say some negative things at times, but he protects his players, too.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/10/01...om-brian-burke

“It’s obviously a new chapter and there’s been some change, but we’re not looking at it, internally in the locker room, as a rebuild where we’re going to be satisfied losing,” Stempniak said. “Every year, there’s a team that comes out and plays above expectations and a lot of times they’re young teams. You look back at what Ottawa did a couple of years ago, where they were written off, but they got contributions from everyone and made the playoffs.

“That’s a team we can model ourselves after.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...ticle14646742/

At the very least, O'Brien gave Monahan kudos for surviving head coach Bob Hartley's month-long doozy of an introduction.

"He made it through the toughest camp I've ever been in as a pro," he said.

"I was joking with him, 'Did you think this is what the NHL is all about?' He laughed and smiled. For an 18-yearold kid, he probably got his eyes opened a little bit. But he made it through.

"Like I said, he's got a bright future and he's a good kid. Hopefully, he can mature quickly because we're going to need him."

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/...365/story.html